Week 109 - Oklahoma and the Ozarks - 09-14-2008

Return to the Ozarks,

In September of 2006, our first month of full time traveling, we ventured through Oklahoma and stayed in Arkansas at the Ozarks Luxury RV Resort. It was our favorite resort at that time. The actual resort looked as good as the online photos; the resort members were the nicest group of people we had met, and Table Rock Lake and the surrounding hills were a gift from God.

Well, this week we again traveled through Oklahoma to the Outdoor Resorts. And we were not disappointed. This is an ownership park, where you can purchase a lot or you can rent it by the day as we do. Our good friend Kevin was there to greet us and we met a dozen new friends. After visiting over 300 parks across America, we have to say that this is still our #1 choice.

The park below is also very nice! It is Twin Fountains RV Park in Oklahoma City, OK. Ellen met a nice couple, Peter and Sandy. We spent the evening with them and it just so happened that both of us were traveling the next day to the Aux Arc State Park in Ozark, Arkansas.

In Oklahoma City, we visited the Oklahoma City Memorial, the site of the 1995 bombing of the Murray Federal Building. 1) For each of the 168 victims, there is any empty chair in the garden with their name engraved. The 19 smaller chairs are for the children that were killed. 2) Outside the memorial, friends, family members and schoolmates have hung pictures, notes, stuffed animals and other mementos to show their love and loss for the children and their families. As you read the notes, it is impossible to stop the flow of tears for the innocent victims of this tragedy.

On a brighter side we visited "Brick Town" and strolled along the River Walk. It is gorgeously landscaped with every block having a different motif. Along the walk are a variety of restaurants and shops. A must see when you are in Oklahoma City.

Some politically correct states and politicians seem to "run from oil". Not so with the capital city of Oklahoma City. They proudly display an oil derrick in the park across the street from the capital building. Hooray for Big Oil.

1) Aux Arc State Park on the Arkansas River. The $18 sites are probably the largest we have encountered. 2) Our friends Peter and Sandy, whom we met in Oklahoma City.

Yeah, okay, I get the crooked and steep part of Hwy 23 from Ozark, AR to Blue Eye. An absolutely fantastic road trip.

Home at last! This is the Ozarks Luxury RV Resort. Outdoor Resorts had 12 locations across the USA. We have been to six of them and other fine resorts. This is by far our favorite. There is so much beauty here, both man-made and Lord-made. And the people are the kindest, most generous that we have met. Our lakeside site overlooks Table Rock Lake. It's 800 miles of shoreline are completely forested and beyond description.

One of many of the man-made water features in the park.

1) The resort is remote. The closest town of Blue Eye is rather small. 2) Small yes, but apparently it grows quickly as you travel from one end to the other.

Hurricane Ike (downgraded to a tropical storm), paid us a visit. From a pleasant evening around the campfire, it was transformed ...

into quite an event. Winds were 50 mph and tons of rain. These pictures were taken with a flash at 2 a.m. The second picture is of our friend Kevin's home and patio. The rain was blowing by so quickly that the drops were streaks even at our fastest camera setting.

By Sunday morning, Kevin's patio was rearranged and the trees at the Chapel on the Hill were down. We went on two scooter rides, one 90 miles and the second 140 miles. We saw thousands of downed trees, many making the roads impassible. But friends, neighbors and road crews chopped up and moved the the debris quickly. We, as well as many in Arkansas, are still waiting for electricity to come back on. They are hoping to get electricity back by Wednesday. (Maybe)

The folks at the resort worship at Chapel on the Hill, next door to the resort.

Pastor Teddie and his wife Charlene are a blessing to those around them. After pastoring in East St. Louis, Illinois for decades they purchased two RV sites at the Ozarks Resort in 2001. In 2002 they bought the two-story house on the lake, next to the resort. If you come to visit us here, you can stay in one of their 5th wheels in the RV park or next door in the house. Both are furnished and they do not require payment, just leave the homes as you found them.

In 2003 they purchased the yellow house (the two story portion on the right). In 2004/2005 they "added on" the church on left side along with the 5-story tower. They offer their house and church for Sunday morning services, weddings and receptions. They just had a wedding on Saturday night as you can see from the decorations. Pastor Teddie says most preachers tell you to bring three books to church: The Hymn Book, The Good Book and your pocketbook. Teddie and Charlene owned many businesses through the years and have been good stewards of God's money. He tells you to leave your pocketbook at home and just come and be blessed.

We are blessed that the Ozarks is a second home to us. We will stay a few more days and start a slow journey back to California for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Be blessed,

Love, Pete and Ellen

Photos from Sep 2008